Thing, first introduced in the 1954 book *Homebodies* by Charles Addams (the creator of the Addams Family), plays a crucial role in the *Wednesday* series. More than just a hand, Thing has thoughts and feelings, acting as Wednesday's loyal assistant. To bring Thing to life, director Tim Burton collaborated with visual effects supervisor Tom Turnbull and Romanian magician Victor Dorobantu, who embodies the disembodied hand.
According to *Collider*, Burton envisioned Thing from pre-production as a hand that appeared to have been severed and stitched back together multiple times. He wanted Thing to appear as realistic as possible, leading the team to choose live-action filming with a real actor instead of relying entirely on computer-generated imagery (CGI).
The film crew experimented with various approaches, studying the script to find the most effective method. On set, Dorobantu wore a full-body blue suit that could be digitally removed in post-production without affecting other details, leaving only his hand, which was specially made up.
In an interview with *Vanity Fair*, Dorobantu, who is almost 1.9 m tall and weighs about 100 kg, described the challenges of portraying Thing. His custom-designed suit required numerous adjustments to fit his physique. To minimize the work for the visual effects (VFX) team, Dorobantu frequently contorted himself into tight spaces, hiding under beds and behind doors.
The magician studied sign language and military hand signals to develop ways to convey emotions through gestures. He also observed the movements of spiders and mice for inspiration.
"It took me a long time to perfect the movement of my middle finger," Dorobantu said. "The film crew paid attention to every detail. Seemingly simple actions required skill and flexibility, revealing the hidden meaning behind each movement. Burton was so passionate about Thing that he was willing to shoot a scene 20 times if necessary."
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Magician Victor Dorobantu, 28, on the set of "Wednesday". Photo: Netflix |
Magician Victor Dorobantu, 28, on the set of "Wednesday". Photo: Netflix
*Variety* praised the collaboration between Dorobantu and Jenna Ortega (who plays Wednesday), highlighting the memorable scenes they created for Thing. In the first season, Thing is introduced when Wednesday discovers her parents sent him to watch over her. Thing conveys loyalty by bending his index and middle fingers, while fear is expressed through rapid, continuous finger movements.
On social media, many viewers have commented on how Thing provides comedic relief, balancing the show's suspenseful moments. The character influences key plot developments, helping Wednesday investigate the mystery, aiding her escapes, and offering emotional support. One X user wrote, "Thing is always there when Wednesday needs him. I want a friend like that."
Released in 2022, *Wednesday*, created by Alfred Gough and Miles Millar with Tim Burton as producer, continues the legacy of *The Addams Family*. The story revolves around the eccentric eldest daughter of the wealthy and mysterious Addams family. The first season garnered 252 million viewing hours, ranking among Netflix's top 10 most-watched English-language TV series globally for 20 weeks.
The second season, which premiered on Netflix on 6/8, finds Wednesday Addams (Jenna Ortega) returning to Nevermore Academy as a hero after saving the school from the Hyde monster. However, within days of the new term, she faces a series of new challenges: a stalker, a rift in her friendship with Enid (Emma Myers), a string of crow-related deaths, and the sudden disappearance of her psychic abilities.
Que Chi (adapted from *Vanity Fair* and *Hollywood Reporter*)
